Hero Over Here: A Story of World War I

Once Upon America

by Kathleen V. Kudlinski, Bert Dodson (Illustrator)

Theodore's father and brother are off fighting in the First World War. Theo is proud to be the man of the house-it's his chance to be a hero. But when his mother and sister become victims of the deadly flu epidemic of 1918, and he has to take care of them alone, he learns what being a hero is all about.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Middle Grade, American History, Childrens, School, Historical

54 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1990

About the author

Kathleen Kudlinski is the author of 40 children’s books. Her works range from picture books to the YA level and include natural history, biographies and historical novels.
When not writing, she is a popular speaker and writing instructor. Building on a BS in Biology and six years of classroom teaching experience, Kathleen later trained as a “Master Teaching Artist” with the Connecticut Commission on the Arts as well as presenting at regional and national conferences. Now she eagerly Skypes with classroom, book-, and home-school groups, world-wide.

In her spare time, she paints and leads several SCBWI (Society of Childrens Book Writers and Illustrators) critique groups, and teaches writing for children.

She writes at home beside a deep, wild lake in Guilford CT or at her woodland cabin in Weathersfield, VT with a a rescue macaw clinging to her shoulder and a pitbull warming her feet.

Reviews

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

An intense and touching read about a little boy living through the horrors of the Spanish flu at the end of World War I. This was more difficult to read with my sons than I expected. It felt rather overwhelming to dwell on death during a pandemic while living through a pandemic. But, this work still has a heartwarming ending and seems an appropriate snapshot of 1918 in America. Afterwards it led to fruitful discussion of comparisons and contrasts between 1918 and 2020. This work is very brief, but I'm glad to have encountered the characters. My sons (10 and 8) claimed afterwards that they did not like it, but during the reading, they were hooked and wanted to continue speedily until it ended. They were definitely attached to the characters.

[Marita]

A great little children’s book set during the time of the Spanish flu. This has many great character lessons for children to learn from and emulate. It’s so hard to fathom the magnitude of the terror this disease instilled in everyone when it was going on. Makes me shudder to think of anything like this happening today.

[Katie Unger · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super interesting to read this story about the 1918 flu epidemic during this current COVID epidemic. Read aloud to my kids and we ended it feeling grateful for modern medicine and current knowledge of how viruses spread. A little sad in parts, but an informative and enjoyable short historical novel.

[Margaret Chind · Rating 5 out of 5]

We chose to read this book earlier than scheduled due to the topic of the Spanish Influenza epidemic of 1918 as the Great War ended. The main character, the hero is ten-years-old. My oldest child is ten-years-old. With all the newness of the current pandemic CV-19, this was an important read. We own this as a read for our BookShark Level 4 and Sonlight E reads.

[Terri Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really like this book. I used it in homeschooling my daughter and other kids in my homeschool classes when studying World War 1 and recently reread it just for fun.

This is an excellent book for boys as well as girls because the lead character is a 10 year old boy named Theodore and is a typical boy in 1918 who feels a little jealous of his dad and older brother who have gone off to be heroes "over there" in Europe in the war while he is stuck behind with his mother and bossy older sister.

Theodore's cousin lives in Montana and he is saving money from the small business he and his friend George have picking up coal that has fallen off trains and selling it to poor families who can only afford small amounts . Once he saves enough, he wants to ride the train off to Montana where he thinks a boy who works on the ranch gets respect as if he were a man.

The day his brother leaves town for his military service, Theodore becomes uncomfortably aware of the deadly flu that has gone viral worldwide. He finds that his friend has already lost his sisters and has a very sick mom. When he gets home, he finds his sister waiting for him with the news- the flu has hit their mother and she is deathly ill. This flu hits quickly and their mother had awakened that morning sick. His sister is a girl scout and proud that she knows how to care for the sick- until she passes out too!

At school the next day, the teacher tells everyone that school will be closed until the deadly flu epidemic is over and there is bad news for Theodore's friend George- George's mother has died. Theodore becomes panicked and wants to get home to see his own mother. The teacher promises to send someone to look in.

What happens to a 10 year old boy in 1918 before there are medicines and treatments to help with flu when he must be the only one to care for a desperately sick mother and sister while his father and older brother- who he finds also has the flu- are away? What would we do at age 10 if we found a boy dying of the flu on the side of the road and no adult would help? Read this book to find out why all the heroes were not "over there" (as the song said" but there was at least one Hero Over Here.

[Grace · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVED this book. It doesn't matter that this book is only 54 pages long and intended for 9 year-olds. The message is universal and something that young people today sorely need. This thing is chock-full of strong and praiseworthy character values. Also, I had NEVER HEARD of the Spanish flu until I read this book. Why hadn't I heard of it?! It was a crucial part of history! I cannot recommend this book enough, regardless of age or genre preferences. Even if you don't end up liking it, it will only have taken up thirty minutes of your time.

[Leslie Morrison · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great little book that all of us enjoyed. The timing of our reading it may have been a little crazy. The Spanish Flu of 1918 killed between 20 and 50 millions people. Emilia said, “People were wearing face masks then, too!” 😳

[Christine Stobbe · Rating 3 out of 5]

A concise book that might have been better had it been developed more fully. I did not like the main character at all. I found Theodore a selfish little boy whose change in the story came on too quickly to be believable. A lot of events happen with little warning or explanation. However, the book's underlying theme - that heroes appear in all sorts of places and circumstances, and they are not always doing glamorous or exciting tasks - is a valuable one. "Shine where you are," could be a good summary of this book, and it's a useful lesson for kids in stepping up where you're needed and doing things you thought you couldn't, as well as a short history of the flu epidemic of 1918.

[Greta Slabach · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anyone can be a hero. Even a 10-year-old. And heros don't always fight wars and travel to other countries.

Sometimes they put out home fires. Takes care of their families. Make sandwiches and clean up sick people and try to be brave the best they can.

This is a sweet story about a boy who does just that and it is told with all the finesse of adult literature...just with shorter words.

I love re-reading childhood favorites!

[Lorena · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book for children who are new to learning about war. It only briefly touches upon war subjects and mostly focuses on the Spanish flu of 1918. It’s a well-written story about how children can make a difference. Definitely recommend. I’m glad it’s in our personal library.

[Caristy Olson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Talking about being a hero over in the war. What makes a hero? It also talks about the Spanish flu and a fourth grader being given the task of caring for his mom and sister. How is someone a hero without going to war?

[Claire Kizziah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good book. It is about a boy who has to take care of his two family members who had the Spanish flu while his father and brother fight in World War I. I recommend it to people who like historical fiction- specifically this time period.

[Crystal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well this is a timely little book! We read it as part of our 3rd grade literature studies and my daughter really enjoyed reading a story about the Spanish flu of 1918. There were many similarities to these covid times we are living in, and it made today feel a little easier.

[Jersc · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great children's book sharing what the pandemic of 1918 was like. It is a bit horrifying and in light of our present circumstances, I would not recommend this book to small children.

[Toby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Intense storyline. We were on the edge of our seats and in tears through many parts. Crazy to read of the Spanish flu during COVID

[=☆Silver-Lining☆= · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was pretty good, my only problem was it was really short. This book had a good lesson, though. Anyone can be a hero.

[Libby Marie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this during the pandemic and it kept my mind occupied. It was pretty good and was somewhat of a reminder of what I was living through.

[Mandee Karp · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super quick and feel good story for an elementary school kid. My daughter loves recommending her school books to me so I read them when she is done :)

[Anne White · Rating 2 out of 5]

What a grim story (with unpleasant details) to pack into a short book. Not one I could imagine reading to children.

[Lily Wilcox · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is so good

[Matthew Haley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really good snapshot of world war 1 and the Spanish flue.

[Samantha Zurbrick · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read this book for Crosby’s curriculum. It was a good read! Crazy how the Flu during WW1 & COVID were alike. Quote: “Hard times can make heroes anywhere”

[Jamey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was written extremely well. It follows a young Teddy Roosevelt, who must care for his sick mother and sister while is Father is fighting in the war. The reader watches Roosevelt mature from a boy into a young man as he is faced with challenges that solely depend on him.

[Barbara Petro · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book follows a young boy who doesn't think he can as he does. The hero of this story is faced with taking care of his family during the influenza epidemic during World War 1.

[Donovan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hero over Here by Kathleen V. Kudlinski is about a kid named Theodore. His father was in the hospital after fighting in World War I. His brother was going to fight in the war as well so Theodore became the man of the house. Meanwhile there was a flu epidemic and his mother and sister became ill with the flu. But Theodore didn’t really care. He wanted to go to Montana – a long time dream of his. But after meeting a man needing medical attention, he realized he needed to help him and others. So he stopped his plans to go to Montana, started to help the sick and he made a difference.

I recommend this book to readers who really love history. I wouldn’t recommend it to people who like action and suspense books though. And it might be a bit boring for some people, especially in the middle of the story.

I didn’t love this book, but it was very good. The illustrations by Bert Dodson were okay. If you thought this book was all about war, then you’d be wrong. But if you are looking for a good short historical fiction book about a boy who becomes a hero, you’ll enjoy this book.

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Even small books can hold great stories. Hero Over Here was written by Kathleen V. Kudlinski and was first published by Viking Penguin in 1990. In 1992, it was republished by Puffin Books and was illustrated by Bert Dodson. Although the characters and story are fictitious, the events are based on the memories of the author's two grandmothers.

Theodore's father and brother are both fighting in World War I, getting a chance to be heroes. Theodore longs to be with them, but when the 1918 influenza epidemic strikes, he learns what being a hero is really about.

Hero Over Here is well written, the characters are portrayed with tenderness. The story captures the grief, suffering and bravery that accompanied the terrible epidemic as the people back home fought their own battle for survival. The pencil drawings, some of them full page drawings, are full of feeling and complement the story.

Hero Over Here is a short story and, although it is for children, adults will enjoy reading it too. It is emotional though, and is probably most suitable for children between the ages of ten and fourteen.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Young Theodore learns to take care of his mother and sister during the deadly flu epidemic of 1918 while his brother and father are off fighting in the war in Europe.

[Kimberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great little book about the flu epidemic of 1918 and how one boy was a hero at home by taking care of his mom and sister.

It is so sad that 22 million people died of the flu that year, more than died in WWI.

[Tammy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Covers the influenza epidemic of 1918 in a good way for younger kids.

[Skye · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute little book.